Archie Cecil Thomas White

Held Stuff Redoubt for Four Days Against Repeated Enemy Fire

Archie Cecil Thomas White was born at Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, on October 5, 1891. Educated at Harrogate and King’s College London, he became a teacher before joining the Yorkshire Regiment in 1914. He served with the 6th Battalion at Gallipoli, where his younger brother was killed, and went to France in July 1916.

Between September 27 and October 1, 1916, White commanded the troops holding the southern and western faces of Stuff Redoubt near Thiepval. For four days and nights he maintained the position through bombardment and repeated counterattacks. Supplies and ammunition ran short. When a superior German force nearly forced the defenders out, he personally led a counterattack that recovered the threatened faces of the redoubt. He received the Victoria Cross for the courage, determination and leadership that sustained the defence. King George V presented the decoration in Hyde Park on June 2, 1917.

White subsequently held staff appointments, received the Military Cross and served with the Archangel Relief Force in 1919. In 1920 he joined the Army Education Corps as a major. He instructed at Sandhurst and commanded Queen Victoria’s School at Dunblane. During the Second World War he held senior education appointments, including with the 21st Army Group, and was mentioned in despatches. He retired as an honorary colonel in 1947.

In civilian life he became principal of London’s City Literary Institute and remained active in Army education. He died at Camberley on May 20, 1971. His ashes were scattered at Woking Crematorium, and his Victoria Cross is associated with the Green Howards Museum at Richmond.

**Victoria Cross citation**

“For most conspicuous bravery at Stuff Redoubt on the 27th September and the 1st October 1916. He was in command of the troops that held the southern and western faces of a redoubt. For four days and nights, by his indomitable spirit, great personal courage and skilful dispositions, he held his position under fire of all kinds and against several counter-attacks. Though short of supplies and ammunition, his determination never wavered. When the enemy attacked in greatly superior numbers and had almost ejected our troops from the redoubt, he personally led a counter-attack which finally cleared the enemy out of the southern and western faces. He risked his life continually and was the life and soul of the defence.”